visas & identification

Every country has its own rules and regulations for entry and stay of non-nationals. As a general rule, while you prepare your relocation to CERN, you should contact the Swiss and the French embassy or consulate in your country to learn about the Swiss and French entry rules. That way you will find out whether or not you will need a long-stay visa (for more than 90 days).

You must get visas before arriving at CERN – it is advisable to start the process 2 to 3 months in advance. If you don’t know in advance where you will live, you should apply for visas for France and for Switzerland.

You will need a CERN Letter of Invitation which should include all your family’s names. The CERN secretariat office where the employee will work arranges for this letter. If your family is relocating with you, their names on their passports and on the Letter of Invitation must match.

Generally, if you are a national of an EU or EFTA country, you will not need a visa for either France or Switzerland. But there are exceptions for new member states of the EU such as Romania and Bulgaria, whose nationals still need a visa.

Access to CERN for You and Your FamilyAs access to the CERN site is controlled, both you and your family will need a CERN badge to enter the site. A representative from the Human Resources Department will give you a form showing everything you need for your registration at CERN. Always carry it with you when entering CERN.

IdentificationIn France, it is very common to prove your address with a bill from your electricity provider or so. If you want to register a new phone or at the local library, always have a bill (facture) with your address on it with you!

Generally, always carry your passport with you, and if going to CERN be sure to carry your CERN ID.You can get certified copies of Passports at Swiss banks and post offices.

Application Form and Instructions

FranceThe Visa Application Form and Instructions in English can be found here, including Schengen rules.Take your completed form(s), fee, copy of CERN Letter of Invitation, and passport(s) to your local consulate - or - mail photocopies with a note saying that you will bring originals when visas are approved.Everything except passports will be sent on to Paris for review and approval, so make copies before mailing.Consult their website for turnaround time – should be approximately 4-6 weeks.The Visa Section does not take phone calls, but does respond to e-mails. Send one after mailing in paperwork to be sure everything needed was received. Once authorization is received, the visa section will call or e-mail.

On December 12, 2008 Switzerland joined the Schengen visa scheme and started issuing visas that are valid for the whole Schengen-area. The Shengen visa must be presented upon entering Switzerland. To see requirements please check the website of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs.